With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it is important that you remember to thank your employees for all their hard work. By showing gratitude to your employees, you can help them adopt a more positive perspective on work. You can also improve a stressful work situation, and even help them be healthier. While many of us say the quick “thank you” to our employees, it is important that you go beyond this.
The team of HR professionals at Optimum Employer Solutions has come up with a few ways to help you really show your thanks to your employees this season.
Here are a few tips:
Be Very Specific – When you say “thank you” to an employee, it is crucial that you go into more detail. For example, “Thank you for doing such a great job managing that customer complaint. The customer and I are both pleased with your solution to the issue.” The point is, say what you are specifically thankful for. By verbally specifying an action, achievement or behavior that you appreciate, your employees will know for the future. They will also feel like you are really paying attention to their work.
Give a Gift – Along with a verbal “thank you,” consider offering a gift on occasion as well. For example, gift cards, unscratched lottery tickets, or tickets to see a movie could be nice. Even tickets to a local sporting event, or entertainment, are great options that will appeal to a lot of different employees. You can create a rewards system so employees can work hard and earn prizes. If you prefer a gift that keeps on giving, consider offering free tuition to courses or tickets to conferences that are related to your industry.
Track Accomplishments – It is important to thank employees for great accomplishments in the moment. To dive deeper, you should also make note of employee achievements so you can highlight them during feedback sessions. This data will be invaluable when you go to promote employees or give raises down the road.
Make a Big Deal Out of It – In addition to rewarding employees for good work, be sure other employees understand the sacrifices the good employee made. For example, if an employee stayed late or worked on the weekend to accomplish a goal, show your appreciation. You can do so by telling other employees about it and how much you appreciate the sacrifice. You can also include employee praise in a company newsletter, business-wide email or at a meeting. Public recognition goes a long way in boosting an employee’s spirits as well as showing other employees the type of work you value.
Doesn’t Need To Be Tangible
To show appreciation does not mean you have to have a party every day or offer expensive gifts as rewards. Just be sure to regularly tell your employees how much you appreciate them and why. This verbal acknowledgment and thanks from the boss goes a long way in increasing company morale and promoting a positive work environment.
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